Friday, 20 July 2018

THE High Court in Masvingo has upheld a provisional order
barring Zanu PF from frog-marching pupils and teachers to its campaign rallies
during school hours as well as arm-twisting them to participate in
election-related events.

The order was affirmed on Tuesday following an application
by the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) under its safe
schools campaign.

Justice Joseph Mafusire ruled that political parties should
not cause the closure of schools, compel teachers to attend or make
contributions towards rallies and that school properties cannot be used for
political events without the school authorities’ consent.

“Thus, the respondents, their employees, members and/or
agents are, notwithstanding the appeal, interdicted from asking, encouraging or
forcing children at schools to attend or participate in political rallies or
activities or causing the closure of schools for any of its political rallies
or activities,” the ruling read in part.

The ruling followed attempts by Zanu PF to have the Supreme
Court suspend the execution of the court’s June 28 ruling made in favour of
Artuz.

Zanu PF lawyer, Nickiel Mushangwe had argued Mafusire’s
earlier verdict was defective since there was no evidence linking the party to
the practice.

But Artuz lawyer, Doug Coltart, then filed an urgent
chamber application for leave to execute pending appeal at the same court,
which has now been granted.

Artuz has since started circulating a message about the
verdict on various social media platforms, which reads:

“Please spread the word that the court order is back in
operation despite Zanu PF’s effort to suspend it by appealing to the Supreme
Court. Let’s protect our children from political exploitation”. Newsday